Google is planning to offer affordable TWS with the new upcoming Pixel Buds A. The ‘A’ series addition in the buds lineup is said to copy the premium design of its predecessor with new colors. And, Google recently leaked an image of the new TWS via an email. So let’s dig in more to know in detail about the Google Pixel Buds A.
Rumors Roundup
Google added promotional images of their Nest series devices to a new email sent to Google Nest customers. The Nest gadgets include the Pixel 5, Nest Hub Max, subscription shortcuts, and a pair of earbuds which seem to be very different in color from the Pixel Buds 2 that we saw last year.
The core design of buds and their case, as previously rumored, is expected to remain unchanged. Buds A will provide touch control and quick access to the Google Assistant. The biggest difference that stands out here is the addition of new shades. Moreover, the TWS is said to have an all-white color scheme and a forest green color palette.
Likewise, the image shared in the email can be seen in green color which includes the interior of the case as well as the inner plastic. This confirms earlier speculation that the latest buds will be forest green in color. The early reveal comes after the FCC listing of new buds which shows the device dimension and model number.
As the FCC listing shows, the latest TWS is classified as a wireless device with a 3.7V power supply. The listing had already pointed at Google’s forthcoming TWS, and the recent speculation has helped to clarify the design overview.
Google Pixel Buds A Price and Availability
Google is likely to launch the Pixel Buds A on top of other devices at the I/O 2021 event to be held on May 18-20. As you’d expect, this year’s I/O event will be conducted virtually. We’ll learn more about these earbuds including their price and availability at the launch event.
Meanwhile, check out our comparison on Galaxy Buds Pro vs Apple Airpods Pro.
Researchers have found a fake Netflix app guilty of phishing, stealing credentials, and other malicious activities. The malware made to look like Netflix on the Google Play Store was promising free subscriptions. Let’s learn more about the malicious activities of FlixOnline, the fake Netflix app.
Flixonline, the fake Netflix app
Check Point Research team discovered malware hidden inside FlixOnline. The app itself was disguised to look like Netflix. It cheated users by promising up to 2 months of premium Netflix subscription for free. However, once downloaded, the app used to monitor user’s WhatsApp activities.
Access to WhatsApp notifications
The app would ask for multiple permission during the initial startup, one of which was notification access. When permitted, it allowed the app to dig into your notifications and even carry out quick actions on your behalf.
It would hide all incoming notifications out of the user’s sight and then carry out quick actions like “dismiss”, “reply”, and whatever is compatible with that particular notification.
FlixOnline was found manipulating WhatsApp notifications. The app would even detect incoming messages and send automatic replies from the remote command and control (C&C) server. The message contained a link to download the fake app.
“2 Months of Netflix Premium Free at no cost For REASON OF QUARANTINE (CORONA VIRUS)* Get 2 Months of Netflix Premium Free anywhere in the world for 60 days. Get it now HERE https://bit[.]ly/3bDmzUw.”
So, if you have received any message recently like the one above from your WhatsApp contact, it’s because of a FlixOnline-infected device (the fake Netflix app). Such activity would allow the app to multiply.
Malicious activities of the fake Netflix app: Flixonline
Once all the permissions were granted, the app would hide all its icons from the device to avoid removal. It would still be in contact with the remote C&C server—the server used to provide updates to the app to carry out further activities.
And there’s much more to it. The app also requested overlay permission. Though there was no reported case of such an incident, the app was well capable of carrying out a phishing attempt. This could have been done by simply pushing a fake “Login” page on top of other apps.
Damage done
According to the researchers, the app had over 500 downloads on the Google Play Store in the span of 2 months. Google has removed the app from the Play Store upon being notified by the research team. Still, the app could remain hidden on the user’s device. If you still have the app on your phone, you should remove it immediately and change all your password.
How to be safe from such apps?
This recent incident is not something new. Hackers have been fooling people into installing malware by alluring them with free subscriptions to premium apps. When you receive such offers in your inbox, it might be tempting to click on them, especially when you receive them from a trusted contact. However, it’s important to know that hackers can manipulate one’s virtual identity to trick others into its trap. So double-check every incoming message and link even if it’s from the people you trust.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Galaxy A72.
Nokia has revamped its smartphone lineup with six new devices under three different lineups. In this post, we will be talking about the new Nokia X, G, and C series devices in brief along with their expected price in Nepal.
Nokia X-series
Here, the Nokia X10 and X20 are the only devices among the new releases to support 5G connectivity. The company is also promising software and security updates for up to 3 years. Since these phones are debuting with Android 11, they will be getting support for up to Android 14. Both phones are pretty similar and differ mainly in the camera department.
Nokia X20 features a 64MP quad-camera setup with a 5MP ultrawide, a 2MP depth, and a 2MP macro sensor. As for the cheaper X10, Nokia has swapped the 64MP sensor for a 48MP lens instead. Similarly, the X20 has a 32MP front camera, while the X10 has an 8MP camera. You can use the front and the rear camera simultaneously on the X20.
Nokia has also removed chargers and headphones from the boxes of the phone, citing concerns over e-waste. The move seems quite odd as we have seen brands do it only on their flagship devices.
Nokia X10 and X20 have been announced in Europe with price tags of €310 and €350 and will be available from June and May, respectively. If Nokia Nepal launches them here, we expect the price of Nokia X10 and X20 to be around NPR 38,000 and NPR 45,000, respectively.
Nokia X-series
Price in Europe
Price in Nepal (Expected)
X10
€310
NPR 38,000
X20
€350
NPR 45,000
Nokia G-series
As per the G-series phone, they are more focused on providing better battery life, with Nokia claiming up to three days of battery backup.
There are two devices in the lineup – Nokia G10 and G20. They are powered by MediaTek’s Helio G25 and G35, respectively. You get Android 11 out-of-the-box, and Nokia has promised up to two years of software updates on these phones. You get a massive 5050mAh battery on both devices with support for 10W charging via a Type-C port.
Nokia G10
Nokia G20
Display
6.517” HD+ Display
Processor
Helio G25
Helio G35
Memory
3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage
4GB RAM, 64/128GB storage
OS
Android 11
Rear Cameras
13MP + 2MP + 2MP
48MP + 5MP + 2MP + 2MP
Front Cameras
8MP
Connectivity
LTE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0
Battery
5050mAh, 10W charging
Nokia G10 and G20 Price in Nepal & Availability
The price of the Nokia G20 in Nepal is NPR 19,999 for the 4/64GB variant. Nokia G10 is a cheaper offering with a price tag of NPR 16,999 for the same configuration.
Nokia G-series
Price in Nepal
G10 (4/64GB)
NPR 16,999
G20 (4/64GB)
NPR 20,000
Nokia C-series
Finally, the new entries in Nokia’s C-series are targeted towards first-time smartphone users (as usual). They don’t boast a lot of power but could be a decent choice if you are looking for a durable phone with a clean UI. The latest entries on the lineup are C10 and C20. Both are powered by Unisoc processors and come with the Go Edition of Android 11. As with the G-series, Nokia assures two years of software updates on the C series.
Though the two devices pack almost similar specs, the C20 is a more premium option with an octa-core processor, LTE support, and FM radio feature.
Nokia C10
Nokia C20
Display
6.517” HD+ Display
Processor
Quad-core, 1.3GHz
Octa-core, 1.6GHz
Memory
1/16, 1/32, 2/16GB
1/16GB, 2/32GB
OS
Android 11 (Go Edition)
Rear Cameras
5MP
Front Cameras
5MP
Connectivity
Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2
LTE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2
Battery
3000mAh, 5W charging
Nokia C10 and C20 Price in Nepal & Availability
The price of the Nokia C20 in Nepal is NPR 10,999 for the 2/32GB variant. Nokia C10 is not yet available in Nepal, but when it does we expect its price to be NPR 9,000.
Lenovo has announced its new gaming smartphone for the global market. The device is specifically designed for people who are keenly interested in mobile gaming. In this post, we will be taking a look at all the specs, features of the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 along with its price and availability.
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 Overview:
Design and Display
Here, Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is the second smartphone under Lenovo’s Legion branding and a successor to last year’s Legion Duel (Legion Pro in China). The device features a large 6.92-inches FHD+ 8-bit HDR AMOLED panel with the screen refresh rate clocked at 144Hz. Moreover, the device also offers a 720Hz touch sampling rate which is among the highest in the industry. It has 800 nits of brightness (1300 nits peak), HDR 10+ certification, and 111.1% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage.
Legion Phone Duel 2
1 of 3
Design
Thickness
Display
The handset has debuted with a Samsung E4 panel and sports a resolution of 2460 x 1080 pixels. For display protection, the panel uses Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5 on the front.
Talking about the design, the Lenovo Legion Duel 2 is meant to be used in landscape mode. For easy touch responses, the device uses four ultrasonic shoulder keys (R1, R2, L2, L1) on the right frame, two capacitive keys (L3 and R3) on the back, and two display force-touch.
Powering the device is the Snapdragon 888 chipset. On software, it boots on Android 11 based on Lenovo’s ZUI 12.5. It features a dual front-facing speaker for a more immersive sound experience with support for Dolby Audio. For more power, the device is coupled with up to 18GB of LDDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. Lenovo Legion Duel 2 Pro will be available in three memory configurations – 12/256GB, 16/256GB, and 18/512GB.
Plus, heat dissipation here is better than ever. It uses an active built-in Twin Turbo-Fan cooling system to keep everything cooler even after a long period of gameplay. One of the fans is prominently visible on the phone’s back while another one is hidden inside. Concerning the hand rest position of gamers, the balanced ATA 2.0 dual design allows the CPU to be placed in the middle, keeping gamers’ hands away from excessive heat. With this, it becomes the first smartphone to feature a dual fan setup.
One of the most unique designs in Lenovo Legion Duel 2 is its camera placement. Intended for a streaming setup, its 44MP selfie shooter is housed in a pop-up mechanism on the right frame next to the central camera, fan bump at the back. You’ll find its rear cameras here as well. There is a 64MP OmniVision flagship OV64A image sensor with f/1.9 aperture and a 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens with a 123° field of view. The camera at the back supports digital zoom up to 10x and includes a dedicated Super night mode as well.
Rest of the specs
Built for gamers, it utilizes a total of 5500mAh battery, where each 2750mAh cell is positioned on either side of the phone with a centrally placed hardware bump. For charging, there are two USB ports that support a total of 90W of input and can fully charge the device in 30 minutes.
Furthermore, there is a 7-magnet stereo speaker with a dual smart amplifier for a louder, deeper, and less distorted sound. The four microphones allow a better noise reduction and provide better streaming quality even in a busy, noisy environment. The new dual X-axis haptic (HapticX) vibration linear motors enable incredibly precise tactile feedback.
Rear Camera: 64MP OmniVision® flagship OV64A image sensor, f/1.9 aperture, 16 MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.2 aperture, and 123° field of view
Audio: Dual front-facing speakers and Dolby Atmos,
Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi b/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz, 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, Type-C
Battery: 5500mAh (2750mAh x 2), 65W quick charging; Turbo Charging up to 90W quick charging (sold separately)
Others: Octa-Trigger in a ‘console controller like’ array with Quad Ultrasonic Shoulder keys, Dual pressure touch buttons, Dual Capacitance keys input
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 Price and Availability
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 starts at €799 for the base 12/256GB model and goes up to €1099 for the 18/512GB variant. The phone is unlikely to launch in Nepal but we can expect the starting price of Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 to be around NPR 130,000 if it’s available via unofficial channels.
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2
Price in Europe
Price in Nepal (Converted)
12/256GB
€799
NPR 130,000
16/256GB
€999
NPR 141,000
18/512GB
€1099
NPR 155,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Redmi Note 10.
Fujifilm, a Japanese camera manufacturer, has announced the release of the Instax Mini 40 Camera and the Instax Mini Contact Sheet. The company hopes that with this latest release, it will be able to replicate the classic nature and feel of its first-generation camera. So, let’s take a closer look at the Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 including its expected price in Nepal.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 Overview:
Design and Display
The Mini 40 has a retro style with silver stitching and faux black leather that gives it an exquisite overall look. Fujifilm hopes that the Instax Mini 40 will rekindle the feel of film cameras before the advent of digital cameras. According to Fujifilm, it is a lightweight device that can fit in the palm of the hand and would cater to instant photo enthusiasts.
The textured leathery material improves grip. When empty, the camera weighs 0.33 kg, and when loaded with batteries and films, it weighs 0.51 kg.
Instax Mini 40, like the Mini 11, has a 35mm equivalent F1.27 lens. Pushing the large silver button under the lens compartment activates the lens and turns on the camera. To activate the selfie mode, take the lens’s outermost portion out about half an inch more. When you’re done, simply put the lens back into the camera to turn it off.
Mini 40 is fully automatic, with a flash that is always triggered with any shutter press. It has a shooting range of 0.3m and beyond.
Images and Mirror
When you press the shutter button, the Instax Mini film sheet will roll out to a mechanical hum. “Contact Sheet,” like all Instax film, will be available with 10 exposures per cartridge. As previously said, the selfie mode is accessed by pushing the front of the lens outward. It makes taking selfies and close-up photos simpler. The Mini 40 also has a small mirror on the front of the lens to help with selfie framing. The camera is powered by two AA Alkaline batteries.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 Specifications:
Dimensions & Weight
104 mm x 121 mm x 65 mm, 330g (without batteries, strap, and film pack)
Film
FUJIFILM Instax mini instant film (sold separately)
Lens
2 components, 2 elements, f = 60 mm, 1:12.7
Viewfinder
Real Image finder, 0.37x, with target spot
Shooting Range
0.3m – ∞ Selfie Mode (0.3 m – 0.5 m)
Shutter Release
Programmed electronic shutter release, 1/2 to – 1/250 sec. Slow synchro for low light
Exposure Control
Automatic, Lv 5.0 – 14.5, (ISO 800)
Film Ejection
Automatic
Flash
Constant firing flash (automatic light adjustment), Charging time: 6.5 sec or less (when using new batteries), Effective flash range: 0.3 – 2.7m
Auto Power-off time
After 5 minutes
Power Supply
Two AA-size alkaline batteries (LR6) Capacity: Approximately 10 Instax mini film packs of 10 exposures each
Others
Includes film counter and film pack confirmation window
Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 Price in Nepal and Availability
Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 has a price tag of $99.99 and will be available from the end of April. Each pack of Contact Sheet film comes with 10 exposures and is available for $15. If it were to launch here, we expect the price of the Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 in Nepal to be around NPR 15,000.
Camera
Price in the US
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Fujifilm Instax Mini 40
$99.99
NPR 15,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of Insta360 One R.
If you have a company as big as Microsoft, you need to have an efficient way of storing and retrieving data from data centers. Running the world’s second-largest cloud platform further adds to the complication. The challenge here is to keep servers from heating up. One way to keep it in check is to use liquid cooling. Microsoft seems to have taken the term too seriously as it has placed its servers inside boiling liquid to cool them off. Don’t believe me? Keep reading to learn more about the new two-phase immersion cooling technology from Microsoft.
Microsoft Two-Phase Immersion Cooling Technology
The idea of dipping servers in a pool of boiling liquid may sound like a crazy one but it should not come as a surprise given what Microsoft is experimenting with its datacenters right now. For starters, it has previously tried to deploy datacenters inside the sea within a submarine-like tube. The latest effort takes it up a notch by replacing the nitrogen air with an engineered fluid and the tube with a tank.
The Fluid
For this new type of cooling technology, Microsoft has taken a couch-shaped tank and filled it with a special type of fluid. Unlike water, the fluid used here is not a conductor and hence causes no harm to the electronics. The fluid boils faster than liquid has its boiling point is lower at 122˚ Fahrenheit.
The two-phase liquid immersion is based on 3M liquid cooling technology. 3M recommends using Hydrofluoroether-based fluid and we assume it is the same one used here. The liquid has dielectric properties that make it suitable for use in the system.
The fluid soaks heat from the computer servers at work. Here, the lower boiling point of the fluid doesn’t allow the server to work at a higher level. The vapor rises up the tank and interacts with the condenser on the tank lid. It condenses the fluid which rains back on the back onto the servers. And the cycle repeats for continuous cooling.
Potentials
This two-phase immersion cooling technology from Microsoft is more effective than air cooling as the heat is transferred directly from the surface of the servers. Also, heat transfers faster in liquid than in air because of higher density.
It also has an upper hand over the present-day liquid cooling technology. Microsoft says it took inspiration from crypto miners and experimented with the latter. Microsoft recorded 5% to 15% cooler performance. The result motivated the company to dig deeper into the technology and hence the two-phase liquid cooling was born.
The new technology protects the servers from the risks of overheating thus, promoting the culture of overclocking. Eventually, Microsoft plans to use special software to overclock these servers during peak hours of operation.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max.
With the new year approaching in few days, brands have started to launch interesting offers for their consumers. Similarly, Oppo has come up with an exciting scheme under the “Naya Barsha 2078 Ko Offer” for its users. Here, we’ll go over the Oppo new year’s offer in detail.
Oppo “Naya Barsha 2078 Ko Offer”
With this, you’ll get Enco W11 TWS earbuds for free on the purchase of Oppo F17 Pro and Oppo F19 Pro. Moreover, Oppo A12 is now available at a discounted price of NPR 14,990. The device was formerly available for NPR 18,590. So, let’s dig in for a short overview of all these devices.
Oppo F19 Pro
Oppo F19 Pro features a 6.43-inch Super AMOLED panel with an FHD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. Although the device doesn’t have support for a high refresh rate, it can be enjoyed at a 135Hz touch sampling rate and 180Hz touch rate in Game mode.
The device is available in two color variants: Crystal Silver and Fluid Black. Furthermore, it packs the Mediatek Helio P95 chipset coupled with 8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. The price of the Oppo F19 Pro in Nepal is NPR 44,990 for the 8/128GB variant.
Oppo F17 Pro
Oppo F17 Pro is a standout device due to its design. At first instance, I am surprised to see how Oppo has managed to keep its thickness at 7.48mm and 165grams. While saying that, the company has used a polycarbonate body alongside plastic frames to keep it lightweight.
Moving on to the display, the Oppo F17 Pro sports a 6.43” FHD+ AMOLED panel refreshing at the regular 60Hz, with a dual-punch-hole cutout for the selfie cameras. Powering this device is the same Helio P95 SoC. It is available on an 8+128GB memory configuration which costs NPR 43,990.
Oppo A12
Here, the Oppo A12 looks like any other budget smartphone in the market. It comes with a 6.22-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:9.
Under the hood, it is powered by MediaTek Helio P35, which offers decent performance for normal usage. For memory, it is available in 3GB or 4GB of RAM which is coupled with 32GB and 64GB of storage respectively. The dual-camera setup at the back houses 13MP primary sensor and a portrait lens. On the front, there is a 5MP selfie camera. The 3+32GB variant is available at a discounted price of NPR 14,990, during the offer.
OPPO Enco W11
Oppo’s Enco W11 looks somewhat inspired by the Samsung Galaxy Buds lineup. Each pair of buds only weighs 4.4g. The charging case is also light at just 35.5g. It features an 8mm dynamic driver which features titanium-plated composite diaphragms.
For connectivity, Oppo Enco W11 transmits data over Bluetooth v5.0, which ensures seamless connectivity. It features touch control with a pretty good response. In Nepal, the buds are priced at NPR 3,990.
Oppo Naya Barsha 2078 Ko Offer Validity
As I mentioned earlier, with the purchase of Oppo F19 Pro and F17 Pro the company will sponsor the Enco W11 TWS earbuds absolutely for free. Also, two winners will be selected each week from all Oppo products buyers who can win some exciting gifts as well. It includes Enco W11, Bluetooth speaker, Oppo Ollie Doll, and Oppo F19 Pro t-shirt. This scheme will be in effect from 3rd April to 18th April 2021.
Device
Price in Nepal
New Year Offer
Oppo F19 Pro
NPR 44,990
Free Enco W11
Oppo F17 Pro
NPR 43,990
Oppo A12
NPR 18,590
NPR 14,990
Check out our unboxing and impressions of the Oppo F19 Pro.
With the Nepali New Year right around the corner, brands have already started announcing new offers and promotional campaigns. We have already reported on the ones from Samsung and Daraz, and here we will be discussing the “Vivo Nepali New Year Campaign 2078”. The smartphone brand has announced exciting discounts and prizes on the purchase of select devices.
Vivo Nepali New Year 2078 campaign
Under this campaign, Vivo is providing both discounts and prizes on the purchase of select Y and V-series devices. The V and Y-series are home to Vivo’s budget and mid-range smartphones, respectively. They also make up most of the company’s portfolio in the Nepali market.
The price of the Vivo V20 has been dropped by NPR 3,000. So, its effective price is just NPR 44,990 from NPR 47,990. Similarly, the first 100 customers to buy the phone will get a set of gaming headphones as a gift. Likewise, the first 150 buyers of the Vivo V20 SE will receive a Bluetooth speaker as a gift.
Prices of the Vivo Y20 (3/64GB) and Vivo Y12s have also been lowered by NPR 1,000. Among budget phones, the biggest discount is on the Y91C which is now available with an NPR 2,000 price drop (from NPR 14,999 to NPR 12,999). Also, the first 1700 customers to purchase Y20 (4/64GB), Y20s and Y51 will get a chance to win a “real IPL Jersey” of this season.
Smartphone Model
Old Price
New Price
Additional Gift
Vivo V20 (8/128GB)
NPR 47,990
NPR 44,990
Gaming headphone (first 100 buyers)
Vivo V20 SE (8/128GB)
NPR 37,999
—
Bluetooth speaker (first 150 buyers)
Vivo Y20 (3/64GB)
NPR 20,990
NPR 19,990
—
Vivo Y91C (2/32GB)
NPR 14,999
NPR 12,999
—
Vivo Y12s (3/32GB)
NPR 17,999
NPR 16,999
—
Vivo Y20 (4/64GB)
NPR 22,799
—
Chance to win official IPL jersey (first 1700 buyers)
Vivo Y20s (4/128GB)
NPR 25,499
—
Vivo Y51 (8/128GB)
NPR 33,499
—
Duration & Eligibility
Vivo’s New Year 2078 offer will be valid from April 7 and April 25. To be eligible for the prizes, you need to scan the newly activated device on Vivo’s DMS marketing software. Vivo will be paying 25% TDS (Tax Deduction at Source) on the gifts, so no extra cost for the free stuff. More on the bright side, the price drops will be valid even after the end of the campaign.
Following the promising launch of the Oppo F19 Pro and F19 Pro+, Oppo is now serving new devices in the A-series. Oppo A74 5G has been silently listed online on two shopping websites – Shopee and Lazada in Thailand. In this article, we’ll discover more about the Oppo A74 5G including its specifications and expected price in Nepal.
Oppo A74 5G Overview:
The smartphone will be available in 4G and 5G variants. Here, the 4G version has a Snapdragon 662 chipset, 6GB of RAM, and a triple rear camera configuration. The 4G variant of the device has been listed on the official Oppo Combodia website. These are Oppo’s entry-level models, but like always, their costs can be leveled with mid-range product lines.
Design and Display
Moving on, Oppo A74 5G comes with a 90Hz refresh rate on a 6.5-inches FHD LCD screen. As rumored, the listing also reveals the panel holding a touch sampling rate of 180Hz. While the 4G version has a 60Hz AMOLED screen, it is a step-down for a similar handset with 5G capability. In addition, the screen has 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
It has a flat screen that stretches around the front, while the back has a gentle curve arc, forming a premium look of the device.
Under the hood, Oppo A74 5G packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 chipset and is coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The storage can be expanded to 256GB via a Micro SD card. The chipset was announced earlier this year and is based on an 8nm process. With Snapdragon 480, Qualcomm first introduced 5G capabilities in a 400-series chipset.
Camera
Getting to the camera, the phone holds a quad-camera set up in a rectangular cutout. There’s a 48MP primary, an 8MP ultrawide, and two 2MP auxiliary sensors at the back.
Also, there is a built-in flash at the bottom of the rectangular camera cutout. On the front, it houses a 16MP selfie camera inside a punch-hole cutout on the top-left corner. There are regular features like HDR mode, Autofocus, Continuous Shooting, Auto Flash, Touch to focus, etc., in the camera department. And, Oppo has included its AI scene enhancement 2.0 and AI beautification mode to capture better subject details.
Rest of the specs
Oppo A74 5G packs a big 5000mAh battery capacity and runs on ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11. It supports 18W flash charging via the Type-C port. It utilizes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth v5.1 as a connectivity option. Just like the recently announced Oppo F19, it also retains a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Super Night-Standby mode consumes only 2% of the battery as you sleep.
Oppo A74 5G is now available in Thailand where its price is THB 8,999 (~USD 288) for the only 6/128GB variant. We expect the price of Oppo A74 5G to be around NPR 36,000 if and when it launches here.
Oppo A74 5G
Price in Thailand
Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB
THB 8,999
NPR 36,000
Meanwhile, check out our unboxing & impressions of Oppo F19 Pro.
For the past couple of months, I have been using the Samsung Galaxy M51 as my secondary device and here I’ll be discussing it in this long-term review. It brings a big 7000mAh cell, a Super AMOLED screen, and a capable camera setup under the 40,000 price tag. But since the Galaxy M62 and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is launching soon, is the Galaxy M62 still the best phone under Rs. 40,000 in Nepal? Let’s find out here.
Battery: 7000mAh with 25W fast charging (USB-C to USB-C)
Color options: Celestial Black, Electric Blue
Price in Nepal: Rs. 39,999 (6/128GB) | Rs. 43,999 (8/128GB)
Samsung Galaxy M51 Long-Term Review:
Galaxy M51 is kind of a different taste of a phone than what Samsung usually offers in its mid-range segment. I have always liked Samsung mid-rangers when it comes to camera optimization, battery life, and its vivid AMOLED display. However, it was always lacking in the performance department because of Samsung’s audacity to include its in-house Exynos 9611 chipset in all most all of its midrange M and A-series of phones last year.
With the Galaxy M51, not only has the company included a much better SoC, but they have also improved the software optimization, which I’ll definitely get into in full detail in just a minute. Anyway, allow me to elaborate long-term experience with the Samsung Galaxy M51 in this review.
Design & Build
Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
A bit hefty because of a big battery
Design, Buttons, Ports
1 of 3
Volume, Power Button
Design
Headphone Jack, USB-C, Speaker
Let’s start with the design. Well, needless to say, Samsung hasn’t done anything drastic in this aspect and we have seen this design choice many times before. Actually, it just looks like a beefed-up version of the Galaxy M31. The back is still plastic with a shiny finish and with the plastic side frames, it does raise some concern about prolonged durability. Thankfully, throughout my usage, the most that’s happened is a few scratches on the back.
And it’s surprising how this rear panel is so prone to scratches. I mean, I used the phone without a cover for just 3 days initially and it had already suffered tiny visible scratches at the back. So, using a good case is highly recommended from my side.
While the look of the phone definitely is pretty basic, I wished Samsung brought the gradient design of its A-series on the higher-end M-series models too. Overall, visual flair is not one of M51’s forte and if you are someone who wants to flaunt a good-looking smartphone, then you are better off with offerings from OPPO or Vivo.
Display
6.7-inches FHD+ Super AMOLED Plus screen
60Hz refresh rate, 86.7% screen-to-body ratio
That being said, Samsung has always had a good reputation for providing great displays and that tradition continues on the Galaxy M51. You get a big 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with a centered non-obtrusive punch-hole cutout. It’s a quite pleasing display to look at as well. So, throughout my usage for the long-term review of Samsung Galaxy M51, I’ve had a great time viewing different kinds of content on this display.
However, even with its AMOLED heritage, you don’t get an in-display fingerprint sensor here. Maybe that’s a part of the cost-cutting process! But I certainly am not complaining about it though because Samsung’s implementation of under-display fingerprint readers has never been the fastest. This side-mounted one, on the other hand, is fast and gets a correct reading almost all the time.
Initially, there were instances where I would struggle to locate the sensor as it is placed a bit higher than I’m accustomed to, but slowly I got used to it, and it’s all fine now! Back to the display, it’s fairly bright so I’ve had no problems reading or using social media while basking in this winter sun.
Standard 60Hz refresh rate
The one tiny complaint I have, which I guess many of you do too, is that this screen refreshes at just 60Hz. Maybe, Samsung could have included a 90Hz panel, given its direct competition like the OnePlus Nord has one. Yet, the price of OnePlus Nord here in Nepal is more than $100 higher than that of the M51, so that’s an incomparable issue. But, in markets like India, both these phones are priced very similarly, thus giving the OnePlus Nord an edge.
But, other than the lower refresh rate, trust me there is hardly anything not to like about this display. It has excellent contrast and the touch sensitivity is top-notch too. And I have to say that no other Android manufacturer does dark mode better than Samsung, so I quite like what we get on the display side of things.
Battery
7000mAh battery with 25W fast charging
And not to forget the undisputed, amazing battery life you get on this phone. During the entirety of the review period, the 7,000 mAh battery in the Samsung Galaxy M51 gave me no less than a 2-day endurance on my use meaning that I only had to charge it once in two days.
That was with my regular usage pattern wherein I would make and pick calls every now and then, write some emails, watch a few videos, play a game or two along with using being active on my social media throughout the day.
Yet, I am not going to lie, despite the terrific battery endurance, I do wish the charging speed could have used a little bump though. Yes, 25-watt Power Delivery charging is pretty fast, but this huge brick of a battery takes 1 hour and 55 minutes to get juiced up, so if you forget to charge it overnight, be prepared to wait for 2 hours in the morning.
Performance
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G SoC (8nm)
6/8GB LPDDR4x RAM with 128GB storage (expandable)
Now let’s get to the performance. Like I mentioned earlier, contrary to the Exynos 9611 in most Samsung mid-range phones, the Galaxy M51 features Snapdragon 730G, which is one of the popular choices in the mid-range category.
With this, I can finally say that the performance of a mid-range Samsung phone is actually good. Plus, the company has optimized its One UI here pretty well. As a result, you will get a good user experience on this device. From normal everyday tasks to even multitasking with heavy apps, things are quite fluid. The Galaxy A71 that shipped with a similar Snapdragon 730 chipset isn’t smooth as the Galaxy M51, so it’s great to see Samsung work on memory and CPU management to provide a better experience.
Gaming experience
Gaming too is a fun ride here. PUBG Mobile runs quite nice in Smooth graphics and Ultra fame rates all the while being ever so slightly jittery in High frame rates and HD graphics setting. Still, the cheaper Redmi Note 9 Pro Max and the Poco X3 has slightly better performance in PUBG under the same HD graphics and high frame rates. But again, the difference is a very thin line, so I guess it does not matter so much I guess.
Likewise, COD runs silky smooth even in the maximum of graphics and frame rate settings. And the best part is that even when you’re game continuously for quite a long time, the phone is still able to maintain low temperatures and amazing battery endurance. For instance, one hour of continuous PUBG and COD gaming only took away 9% of its juice which is awesome!
In terms of software, the Galaxy M51 now runs One UI 3.1 Core based on Android 11 with March 2021 security patch.
Audio
Apart from that, I am not a big fan of the single firing speaker here too. Its output, in my opinion, is strictly average in terms of loudness and overall quality. It does not distort when maxing out the volumes, but it does lack depth. Why am I complaining about this is because, it has such a great display and battery life, so, if it was paired with better speakers, it would have been a great multimedia device too.
Okay, enough of the complaints now. Let’s get to one of the best things about this phone, which is the cameras. Galaxy M51 has a total of 5 cameras, four at the back and one at the front. The back houses the 64MP primary, 12MP ultra-wide, 5MP depth, and macro sensors while there’s a 32MP snapper on the front.
Normal Images
The primary images, just like how it is with all Samsung phones, has that punchy undertone that grabs attention at first sight.
Normal
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Plus, its HDR function works quite fine so you won’t get dark images whatsoever as it handles shadows and light pretty well. Furthermore, the details are on point too, so I am quite happy about how the images turn out.
Wideangle Images
Likewise, the ultra-wide shots too have great colors and dynamic range. When compared to the Vivo V20, you will notice that Samsung’s ultra-wide shots are wider. But in terms of colors, dynamic range, and details, both look neck-and-neck.
Wideangle
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Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
And not just with the ultra-wide shots, primary images from the V20 compete with the M51 really well.
Normal
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Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
The difference lies in the color tone where the V20 is more yellowish while the M51 has a reddish tint. But other than that, I have not been able to firmly decide which one’s better.
Portrait Images
Even portraits look equally good from both phones.
Portrait
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Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
It’s just that Samsung manages to bring out a slightly better bokeh effect than Vivo. Otherwise, subjects and background look good on both.
Selfie Images
Also, I’ve not been able to choose a clear winner in terms of selfies. Both devices manage to shine in their own ways.
Selfie
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Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
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Vivo V20
V20 has a slightly yellowish tone while Samsung’s selfies look a-bit pinkish. Besides this, the details and colors are once again, neck-and-neck.
Portrait Selfie
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Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
It all boils down to personal preference to determine the subjective winner among these phone’s selfie camera.
Nighttime Images
Moving on, the nighttime shots have similar attributes just like the daytime ones too.
Normal Nighttime
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Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
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Only the color reproduction side of things look slightly different, but other things are almost the same.
Night Mode
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Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Galaxy M51
Vivo V20
Having said that, Samsung crops the night mode images comparatively more.
Videography
Getting to the videos, it’s quite weird how both these phones cannot shoot 60fps videos at any resolution. Here, the 30fps footages under both 1080p and 4k resolutions are well stabilized, thanks to Gyro EIS. But what I can say is that Vivo V20 does a better job at maintaining the exposure compared to the Galaxy M51.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M51 is a reliable midrange camera phone just like the Vivo V20. And I am really happy to see midrange smartphones doing so well in this category. With Xiaomi bringing a 108MP camera sensor in its latest Mi 10i, things are going to get even more competitive in 2021’s mid-range market.
Alright, other things such as the call quality and network reception have never disappointed me in any way. It’s been around two months that I have been using this phone and I have not received a single complaint from anyone on the receiving end, so that’s great.
Conclusion
Summing it up, I think the Galaxy M51 is still a great midrange phone under Rs. 40,000 in Nepal. It offers an excellent display, great camera quality, a competitive chipset and a well-optimized UI. However, if you want a better-looking phone and a higher refresh rate display, the Galaxy A52 would be a better choice. Likewise, Samsung will be launching the Galaxy M62 as early as next week that offers a better chipset (Exynos 9825). But it’s going to cost a little more than the M51, which is now available at as low as Rs. 38,000.
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